William E. "Bill" Pierson, 91, of Carmi, passed away Friday morning, October 5, 2012 at his home. He was born December 25, 1920 in Princeton, Ind., the son of William E. and Mona (Walker) Pierson. Bill was raised in the Carmi area and graduated from Carmi High School. He married Alberta Miller June 22, 1947 and she preceded him in death November 6, 1981.

Bill was a Navy veteran of WWII where he served in the Pacific with the 50th Seabees for three years and 12 days. He was a lifetime contractor and co-owner of Pierson and Pyle Steel Contractors. Bill was a 68-year member of the American Legion, a lifetime member of the VFW and Elks, and a charter member of the Carmi Country Club. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Paula Pierson of Carmi; a daughter, Stella Wolf of Newburgh, Ind.; five grandchildren, Beth (Jeremy) Hafele of Evansville, Ind., Bill (Sara) Arbaugh of Evansville, Ind., Penny (Danny) Goodman of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Leslie (Mark) Kessler of Carmi and Dan Arbaugh of Evansville, Ind.; six great-grandchildren, Selah and Isaiah Goodman, Matthew and Jacob Hafele, and Aubrey and Blake Kessler; a sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Jim Jones of Murray, Ky.; a brother and sister-in-law, Loren and Imogene Pierson of Homewood; and a sister-in-law, Jerry Pierson of Oklahoma City, Okla. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister, Helen Presley, and brother, Samuel "Jim" Pierson.

Funeral services for William E. "Bill" Pierson, 91, of Carmi, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi with Rev. Mike Buckman officiating. Burial will be in Big Prairie Cemetery near Carmi. Friends may call from 5 until 8 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.